Archive for Personal

Setting Your Goals for the New Year and Beyond

Happy New Year!

Rather than share events from my past year, I thought I’d offer a bit of encouragement and advice to help with the coming year.  While this is aimed primarily at my fellow writers, it also, I think, can be applied to life in general.

This weekend, I encourage you to sit down and do three things:

1) Create a calendar/schedule for your goals and tasks.

2) Create, or update, your list of goals and tasks.

3) BELIEVE and do what makes you happy.

Read more

Share

Kitsap Herald Interview

I was interviewed for the North Kitsap Herald about winning the Writers of the Future, my novel, and general writing advice.

http://www.northkitsapherald.com/lifestyle/252750391.html

 

Share

What’s My American Culture and Traditions?

Today is St. Patrick’s day.  I have Irish ancestry (as well as French and German), but my cultural upbringing has been Working Class White American* Consumer.  So what does that mean for me today?

First, let me offer you this list of Irish authors to read: https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/irish-authors

Now let me wax contemplative:

Given that I have not participated in or promoted Irish politics, culture or progress, I have not learned Gaelic or Irish step dancing or Irish cooking or anything else decidedly Irish, I’d feel like a bit of a fraud “celebrating” my Irish ancestry today. Yet, it makes me wonder, as holidays frequently do, what are MY cultural traditions and heritage as an American?

Traditions are meant to give us a sense of belonging, of kinship, of continuity in a constantly changing world. They give us something to look forward to, and shining moments to remember.

But in America, land of independence, of life in the fast lane and disposable instant trends, where our home-grown holidays are just a chance to have a day off and usually to party, what traditions long survive the American nuclear family as it grows and splits into individual units?  What are the deeper cultural values and traditions we share?  

Read more

Share